Nature Moncton Nature News: July 3 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 3, 2020 (Friday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

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** Louise Nichols did some bog scouting for the July 18^th Nature Moncton field trip to find two of the bogs on High Marsh Rd considered not easy to access, so some changes may need to be made. Louise, however, had a real find in the bog that she scouted in finding NORTHERN BLUE [Bleu nordique] butterflies in good numbers which I suspect many of us have not seen. This is a bog species. Look at Louise’s photos closely as it is readily detected as something different with the row of 5 capped spots on the hind wing underside. Its food plant is Black Crowberry. Louise also noted a significant amount of CLOUDERRY [Chicouté] (aka Baked Apple) in bloom. This is a bog plant as well, tending to favour coastal bogs, so it’s interesting to see it there in good number. Louise also noted lots of PALM WARBLERS [Paruline à couronne rousse], a species that favours bog habitat and got a photo of one carrying food to nestlings. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS [Paruline masquée] were present in notable numbers. Louise also noted BLACK HUCKLEBERRY in bloom, another tasty bog species in later season.

** Cathie Smith has heard a CAROLINA WREN [Troglodyte de Caroline] singing in the lower Court Street area of Riverview, and another answering it at times, so the pair that we all were monitoring so closely before Covid is assumedly that pair. We put up 9 nest boxes in the general area mid-winter in hopes they would investigate. Covid-19 has interfered with monitoring the nest boxes, but the two placed at Cathie Smith’s and her neighbour’s are being monitored and have not been used. This species nests in very early season and a second brood is very possible so potential real estate is still in waiting. It is suggestive that a pair was in the Court Street area in 2018 as Shirley Childs felt she heard them that year, but was not aware what they were until this past winter. If they have indeed nested, which is assumed, we hope all is well with them.

** Gordon Rattray got several photos on July 1^st which show what’s happening at the moment. The AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] and NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet] now have broods of young and both are shown. He got a nice comparison of the NORTHERN PEARLY-EYE [Satyre perlé] and EYED BROWN [Satyre ocellé] butterflies, which sometimes can be confused. The TOOTHED SOMBERWING MOTH is one often noted day perching. Gordon got underwing and overwing views of the BALTIMORE CHECKESPOT BUTTERFLY [Baltimore] as well as NORTHERN CLOUDYWING SKIPPERS [Hespèrie nuageuse] mating at the White Rock location found on the June 20^th Nature Moncton field trip. It is also that time Lady Beetle eggs are hatching into their larval stage, and one is photographed which is the ASIAN MULTICOLOURED LADY BEETLE, a non-native, very common species. Gordon also photographed an EYE-SPOTTED LADY BEETLE in his yard, a native species less commonly encountered.

** Early morning on July 2, Clifford Twist went to Kent Hills and then to Hayward Pinnacle. He was hoping to see and hear a couple of single MOURNING WARBLERS [Paruline triste] he had located a week earlier, but with no luck. He did find a male and female CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron], a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER [Paruline à gorge noire]. Proceeding on to the Hayward Pinnacle, he heard and saw SWAINSON'S THRUSH [Grive à dos olive], NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier], BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER [Paruline à gorge orangée], CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique], RED-EYED VIREO [Viréo aux yeux rouges], and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER [Paruline bleue] feeding a fledgling. At the Pinnacle, he saw HERMIT THRUSH [Grive solitaire] and an OVENBIRD [Paruline couronnée] who was quite excited and carrying breakfast, so he assumed it was close to its nest.

** Ray Gauvin comments that he is seeing more and more TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] in New Brunswick like all of us are. Ray’s first sighting was around the Bathurst area. It was at a roadside eating road kill, probably 30 years ago. And about the same time, he started spotting one or two in the School Street area of Memramcook/Prés d’en Haut. The numbers kept growing every year at this location. Last year on June 28, 2019, was the most that he ever saw at one location. There were 33 in flight in one photo. It was quite a sight around a big barn where he was assuming they were quite well fed. The barn was on Rue de l’école, a small dirt road that branches off Rue Principale. Ray was back there on Wednesday and not one Turkey Vulture to be found, so the dinner plate must not have been out. They will move with their food supply.

** Aldo Dorio got a nice photo of a SORA [Marouette de Caroline] at Hay Island on Thursday morning. The chicks should be out and about at the moment as well. Aldo also sends a photo of an EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] from his Neguac yard nest box carrying food to nestlings. He also noted the quite extensive webbing of foliage destruction of FALL WEBWORM or UGLYNEST CATERPILLAR.

** Janet O’Donnell has had a doe WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] being very comfortable in her Geary (near Oromocto) yard the past weeks. On Thursday, she brought her very young fawn out for a very brief visit. She probably had it hidden nearby for several days.

** LUNA MOTHS appear to be having a great year with many reports. Debbie Batog had a very fresh-looking specimen day perching at her McKees Mills home.

** It’s Friday and time to review the coming week’s Sky-at-a-Glance courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason, with a full moon weekend coming up.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 July 4 – July 11
Saturn and Jupiter are currently within the eastern boundary of Sagittarius the Archer. Sagittarius is an old constellation of a centaur with a bow and arrow aiming toward Scorpius the Scorpion. If he tries to shoot Aquila the Eagle above, chances are the arrow will be deflected by a shield.

Scutum the Shield is a relatively new constellation, created by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the late 17th century. It commemorates the Polish king John Sobieski III, who defended his country against the Turks. Originally named Scutum Sobiescianum (Sobieski’s Shield) it is generally just called the Shield. Seeing it can be difficult, for its main stars are dim and shielded within the Milky Way. One way to locate it is to find its most prominent deep sky object, the Wild Duck Cluster or M11.

Find the bright star Altair in the head of Aquila and then identify the wings and tail of the eagle. Binoculars will reveal a string of stars leading from the tail to M11 at the top of the shield. The rich Wild Duck Cluster looks good in binoculars and great in a scope, and an imaginative observer can see a V-shape or maybe two. Star cluster M26 is also in Scutum, a binocular width south of M11.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:34 am and sunset will occur at 9:12 pm, giving 15 hours, 38 minutes of daylight (5:42 am and 9:14 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:39 am and set at 9:09 pm, giving 15 hours, 30 minutes of daylight (5:47 am and 9:11 pm in Saint John). The earth is at aphelion, its farthest distance from the Sun at 152, 095,295 kilometres, on Saturday morning.

The Moon is full just past midnight Sunday morning. Around 1:30 am a keen-eyed observer looking south might notice a very subtle gray shade on the upper third of the Moon, a penumbral eclipse, as the earth blocks a portion of the sunlight. At that time Jupiter will near its best for observing, just a fist-width east of the Moon, with Saturn even less distance beyond Jupiter. Mars will be low in the east but giving better views a few hours later in morning twilight. Venus is at its brightest on Friday morning, in the Hyades star cluster just above Aldebaran. Mercury rises about 40 minutes before the Sun on Friday, and with luck comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE might be visible in binoculars a fist-width above the northeastern horizon around 4:30.

With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.